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• Availability of suitable nesting habitat is probably the <br />limiting factor on waterfowl production in the planning <br />unit, although Canada geese nest on the Gunnison River <br />below Delta. Between l0 and 20 pairs are known to nest <br />in this area. <br />There is little the BLM can do to improve waterfowl habi- <br />tat, because private interests control all of the water <br />rights and purchase of these rights would be prohibitive <br />for the value gained except on BLM constructed projects. <br />Non-Game Birds <br />Many birds of prey inhabit the planning unit. Numerous <br />golden eagles can be seen soaring in the area year-round. <br />Bald eagles inhabit the area during the winter, and a few <br />year-round residents are suspected. They usua]ly stay in <br />close proximity to the North Fork of the Gunnison River. <br />Several active raptor nests were found during the summer <br />• of 1973, but the species using them were not present to be <br />identified. Nest locations are shown on overlay ~3. Sev- <br />eral nests occur on the Needle (see photo in Recreation <br />Section). Numerous power transmission lines traverse the <br />planning unit, but none are known to be chronic bird elec- <br />trocution areas. Some hawk nests have been found in close <br />proximity to roads in the planning unit, but new road con- <br />struction activities should avoid routing near these nests. <br />Many other species of birds occur in the planning unit <br />and are listed in .36 of Step 2 of this URA. This large <br />number of species is dependent upon the wide variety and <br />interspersion of the various habitat components. This <br />variety should be preserved as much as possible to pro- <br />vide a stable cycle of nutrients and energy. The <br />diverse life zone species will also serve as an outdoor <br />ecology ]aboratory for the general public. <br />• <br />NF-WL-III-21 4/76 RWM <br />